Chapter 60 2-0
Phoebe
For a split second, my heart was pounding with anticipation as I kept tapping the bottom-right corner of my phone screen. Then my headset buzzed with the sound, "Victory!" I tossed my phone onto the table and shot up from my seat, cheering like crazy.
“They didn’t see it coming! I pulled off a solo straight push!” I yelled toward Hayden, who stood there with his usual calm, elegant vibe.
I jumped into his arms without thinking—until I heard Finley’s subtle cough and caught his eye gesture toward Coach Cooper, who stood behind us.
The euphoria was insane. It was my first game ever—2-0 for Divergent Howls. That score gave us the confidence to strut into Leg 1 like we owned the place. Adonis pulled me into a side hug as I let go of Hayden, tapping my chin gently with his fist and flashing that rare, million-dollar smile of his—like it was something exclusive he only shared with me.
“Totally worth dying for you guys,” Zion said smugly, proud of how he’d lured the enemy away earlier.
“Yeah, we all crushed it,” Hayden chimed in, the kind of captain who knew how to keep the team spirit blazing.
We headed home with laughter, high energy, and smiles that carried all the way to dinner. Coach Cooper even cooked for us himself. That night, there were no serious lectures—just his big grin and stories he kept retelling as he sprinkled black pepper over his grilled chicken.
“I think this is the beginning of something,” Coach said. “Slow and steady’s the way to climb to the top.”
“Is the chicken done, Coach? Our taste buds are throwing a tantrum here,” Zion cut in, making everyone chuckle.
I glanced at Zion and smiled. He responded with a playful wink. Finley moved fast, grabbing plates and setting them in front of us.
When I looked over at Hayden, he was typing something on his phone, his brows furrowed. Then, suddenly, he smiled. I got curious.
“What’re you looking at?”
“Coach asked me to create a team social media account. Earlier we had like, 164 followers. Now we’ve got 12,768. I wasn’t expecting that.”
“Is that… a good thing?” Adonis asked, voice low and thoughtful.
“What do you mean, Adonis? Of course it’s good.”
“It’s good if we keep winning. But if we lose... reality can hit hard,” he said without looking at anyone, but I knew those words were aimed at me.
Zion, always the peacemaker, added, “It’s a double-edged sword. They love you when you win. But when you lose…”
Finley showed me his phone. “My account’s blowing up too. Tons of friend requests. Should I just let them pile up?”
“Totally your call. I won’t get mad if some human girls are stalking you,” I said casually.
“Then forget it. I don’t want you getting upset.” He locked his phone instantly, which caught me off guard. I hadn’t meant it as a guilt trip.
Dinner was warm and fun, but Adonis’s words stuck with me. What if I mess up? What if I become a target for hate?
As if he could read my mind, Adonis reached under the table and held my hand. I squeezed back, firm and steady.
“I’m not trying to make you feel bad about what I said,” he murmured. “But it’s better to brace yourself than get blindsided.”
I nodded and gave him a small smile. Across the table, Hayden was watching us with an unreadable expression. But when Adonis tipped his head slightly in Hayden’s direction, Hayden quickly looked away, calm again.
I felt like a delicate vase in a museum—handled with care and attention, even in front of Coach Cooper. No wonder Coach kept glancing between us while slicing into his chicken.
Then a notification popped up. From Hayden.
Pool. 15 minutes. I’ll be there.
I replied right away: “Okay.”
Another message came in. From Zion.
“I’m stopping by your room tonight.”
I sent a smiley emoji and typed: “After I’m done swimming with Hayden.”
Zion read it, then looked at me from across the table with a smirk. That look said a lot, but he didn’t reply.
Not long after, Coach excused himself, saying his British Shorthair had eaten some M&M’s and might be poisoned. Finley snuck a kiss to my forehead.
“Don’t forget to wake up early. We’ve got breakfast duty,” he whispered—his favorite reminder. I just nodded with a smile.
“Good night, Phoebe,” Adonis followed suit, then Zion threw an arm around him and gave me a quick look before vanishing down the hallway.
I changed clothes and made my way to the pool.
The night air mixed perfectly with the faint scent of chlorine. The warm water welcomed me as I stepped down the ladder. The place was dead quiet. I knew it was Hayden’s doing—he’d probably kicked out any random loiterers just for this.
Hayden was already there, standing in the shallow end, slicking his wet hair back.
“I love this place at night,” he said, his voice low, almost blending with the stillness and soft splashes of the water.
I walked toward him. The water reached my shoulders, then my chin. It was warm, calming my racing heart.
“Thanks for bringing me here.”
“I figured you needed a cool-down after all that adrenaline. Sometimes… too much hype can be toxic too.”
“You sound like Adonis.”
Hayden chuckled. “Maybe I’m just trying to be a little more honest lately.”
We didn’t say much after that. We didn’t have to. Just the sound of water and the quiet thump of my heartbeat slowing in the calm.
“I’m proud of you today. You were amazing,” he said softly.
I looked away, my cheeks burning.
“I couldn’t have done it without you guys… without you.”
He swam closer, placing a hand on my shoulder—warm, steady.
“I want to be more than just the team captain who’s got your back.”
I looked into his eyes. No doubt. Just sincerity.
I didn’t resist when he leaned in. When his lips brushed my cheek, it was soft and full of feeling. The dopamine kicked in fast, and soon our lips were locked in a kiss that made everything else blur for a few seconds.
Afterward, we sat by the pool with our feet in the water. Hayden handed me a towel.
“Phoebe,” he said, “Are you ready to meet my family?”
I figured Zion must’ve told him something. I exhaled slowly, remembering what Zion said to me yesterday.
I looked into Hayden’s eyes and answered honestly, “As long as you’re by my side… I’m ready.”